noun General Slang

tombstone

TOOM-stohn · noun · slang

A board standing upright while its surfer is held under.

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Definitions

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When a surfer is held underwater and the buoyant board bobs upright on the surface like a tombstone, marking the rider fighting up the leash.

“His board was tombstoning — everyone knew he was pinned down deep.”
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tombstone In A Sentence

His board was tombstoning — everyone knew he was pinned down deep.

Origin & Usage

Surf slang; the vertical bobbing board resembles a tombstone.

Variants tombstoning

People Also Ask

What does tombstoning mean in surfing?

It's when a surfer is held underwater and their board bobs vertically on the surface, held up by the taut leash, resembling a tombstone.

Is a tombstoning board a bad sign?

Yes. It usually means the rider is pinned down deep and struggling up their leash, so it's treated as a serious warning sign in the lineup.

Why is it called a tombstone?

Because the board standing upright and bobbing on the surface looks like a grave marker over the surfer trapped below.

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